Increased Survivor Benefits Implemented by DOD

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The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 1 that it would begin to implement the Congressionally-mandated increase in the death gratuity for the survivors of servicemembers killed in action and the Servicemembers? Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for servicemembers deployed to designated combat zones. The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief Act 2005 (Public Law 109-13) increased this immediate cash payment from $12,420 to $100,000 for survivors of those whose death is as a result of hostile actions and occurred in a designated combat operation or combat zone or while training for combat or performing hazardous duty.

The supplemental also increases the maximum amount of SGLI coverage from $250,000 to $400,000 for all servicemembers effective September 1, 2005 and provides that the department will pay or reimburse the premiums to servicemembers, who are deployed in a designated combat zone for $150,000 of SGLI coverage. Until the effective date for the SGLI increase, the supplemental provides for a special death gratuity of $150,000, retroactive to October 7, 2001, for survivors of those whose death is in a designated combat operation or combat zone or occurred while training for combat or performing hazardous duty.

The Secretary of Defense has designated all areas where servicemembers are in
receipt of the combat zone tax exclusion as qualifying combat zones and all members deployed outside the United States on orders in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom as participating in qualifying combat operations. Effective immediately, survivors of servicemembers, who die in these qualifying zones or operations, will receive the increased benefits. The Services will also identify eligible survivors of servicemembers who died in these designated zones and operations since October 7, 2001 and begin making the retroactive payments sometime in July. The process of identifying all eligible beneficiaries and completing these retroactive payments will take several months.

Survivors of members who did not die in a designated combat operation or combat zone, but were training for combat or performing hazardous duty, will also qualify for the increased benefits. Circumstances that qualify include: aerial flight, parachute duty, demolition duty, diving duty, war games, practice alerts, tactical exercises, leadership reaction courses, grenade and live fire exercises, hand-to-hand combat training, confidence and obstacle courses, accident involving a military vehicle or military weapon, exposure to toxic fumes or gas and explosion of military ordnance.

All beneficiaries for retroactive payments will be contacted by mail or telephone. If someone is not contacted, but thinks they may be entitled to added benefits, they may inquire at the following addresses or toll-free telephone numbers:

• Army: Department of the Army Casualty Operations at 1-800-626-3317
• Navy: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-62), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-6200 or call 1-800-368-3202.
• Air Force: Air Force Personnel Center Casualty Services Branch at
  AFPC/DPFCS, 550 C Street West, Suite 14, Randolph AFB TX 78150-4216 or call 1-800-433-0048.
• USMC: HQMC Casualty Office, 3280 Russell Road, Attn: MRPC, Quantico, VA
  22134 or call 1-800-847-1597.
• USCG: Coast Guard Personnel Services Center, 444 SE Quincy St., Topeka
  KS 66683-3591; Phone 785-339-3570.

For more information on the entire survivor benefit package, see the NMFA Fact Sheet, Benefits for Survivors of Active Duty Deaths, at:

Survivor Benefits

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(It might be a good idea to put this in ourmemory bank and pass itaround lest some family fails to get the word.)